How employers track hourly time — and pay — has changed over the years. Punch cards gave way to paper timesheets. Then entered Excel spreadsheets. And chances are, you still might even be tracking your employees’ schedules on those spreadsheets.
But now more and more employers have moved to technology that uses biometrics — facial recognition, fingerprint scanning, or iris scanning — to conduct business.
In fact, 62% of companies of companies already use some form of biometric authentication technology and 24% have said they’re going to use it within the next two years.
Here’s what you need to know about workforce biometrics to save time and simplify your scheduling (without going over budget).
Stress less with more accurate timesheets
It’s the end of the pay period and you’ve finally had a few minutes to sit down and approve timesheets. But, as you’ve been accustomed, you don’t have the energy to look critically at every line. You’re looking for a streamlined way to accurately approve your timesheets.
When you know that 43% of shift workers admit to committing time theft, you can’t rely on your tired eyes to double check accuracy. Instead, automate that process — and save yourself hours of scrutinizing over timesheets.
Start and stop shifts from a mobile app that automatically creates (and updates) timesheets for you.
Use real-time data to ensure you have the most accurate record of your timesheets.
Streamline the integration of your timesheets with your payroll to reduce errors.
Never worry about buddy punching inflating your budget
You value friendship. In fact, you know that you wouldn’t have gotten where you are without the help of your friends. But keeping your budget on track is tough when your employees take it a step further and clock in for their friends — on your dime.
Research has shown that employers have lost $373 million due to buddy punching alone. So when it comes to your business, you know that you can’t risk workers punching their friends in at the expense of your bottom line.
Speed clock-in and out by allowing your employees to clock in and out of your store or restaurant from one central kiosk
Use a staff management app that includes a location stamp or facial recognition to easily verify timesheets.
Create automatic alerts for when your employees take too short a break or miss it altogether.
Prepare your hourly workforce to use biometrics
If you’re still using spreadsheets or dated technology to control clocking in and clocking out, join the world of biometrics. Here are three things you need to know to make the transition smoother for you — and your employees.
Brush up on the laws: Each state has their own set of rules. Consult a labor lawyer to ensure you’re on the right side of the law when using biometrics.
Educate your employees: Let them know about the benefits of using biometric timekeeping. Accurate timesheets means your employees get paid what they deserve — on time. That means they can better plan their own personal budgets and they’ll know exactly what they’re getting paid and when.
Write a policy: Include a written policy in your employee handbook to reassure workers about how biometric data will be used. It should be part of the security policy of the company for anyone to read up on and ask challenging questions, so they can be fully assured that the use of technology won’t be harmful.
The right data — anytime, anywhere
When you know where and when your people work, you’ll get more accurate timesheets. Check out this blog to learn more about the benefits of integrated systems for restaurants and retailers or start your free trial of Deputy below.
